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Denninmi

(6,581 posts)
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 12:22 PM Jan 2012

What to keep and what to toss?

I need to de-clutter my house, and the kitchen is part of the problem.

How to judge what gadgets and small appliances to keep, and what to part with?

If I haven't used it in X years, it could go, but OTOH, some items are specialized equipment that I don't use routinely but might need some day for a specialized purpose.

How do YOU decide what to keep and what to pitch? What makes something worthy of its keep for you?

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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NMDemDist2

(49,313 posts)
1. 2 year rule
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 12:30 PM
Jan 2012

if i haven't used it in 2 years, i can toss it BUT if it's a really nice specialty item i may just store it outside or give it to someone i have 'borrowing' rights with

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
2. I have very little space and very few things.
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 12:59 PM
Jan 2012

Once I had my kitchen gear whittled down to what i really needed, I put the rest in a storage cabinet in another location. If I really want/need an item in there, it requires some effort to get to it.

As a result, I find that many of the essentials can be used for multiple purposes that I might not of thought of.

Best example is my cast iron skillet. Since it can go either on the stovetop or over, I use it for both.

Later, when I go through the storage cabinet, I am more easily able to identify what I have essentially replaced.

Best of luck to you.... and start with those tupperware type containers!

elleng

(130,156 posts)
3. 'Easy' for me.
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 01:03 PM
Jan 2012


Left the HOUSE w 'stranged husb' quickly, after assault, so picked up odds and ends when house was later sold; kind of ran through kitchen, and didn't take more than I could carry. Also, was living in rooming/boarding house at that time, with no idea where I'd be. Now have apartment, so am using a few of the old things and miss many that I don't have.

Sorry, this does not answer your question, but basically I've learned how LITTLE I actually NEED.

supernova

(39,345 posts)
4. I like Alton Brown's rule
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 01:16 PM
Jan 2012

Buy and keep things that serve multiple purposes. That way you have flexibility and keep the gadget beast down.

Lucinda

(31,170 posts)
5. I would keep any small appliances that stand a chance of being used
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 01:30 PM
Jan 2012

and toss out extraneous storage containers. Some people have a ton of dishes because they like to collect different patterns... I don't do that, but if I did, that would be something I would look at eliminating too, if I wanted less clutter and to control cabinet space.

It might help to pick one spot (above my fridge in the built in wall in my case) and stash anything you don't use that you want to keep. Everything else gets cut. It tends to make you really think about what you save. You could accomplish the same thing with one storage box if you can't spare the cupboard space. Then donate or sell everything else.

That said, I think they best way to de-clutter is to organize and keep things in their place. You can store a lot more, if it's organized.

Warpy

(110,913 posts)
6. There are things I use rarely, like the food processor
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 04:27 PM
Jan 2012

but when I have an occasion to use it, there is really nothing that can substitute for it since brute strength is out of the question these days. Ditto the stand blender, something I actually use every couple of weeks for Chinese sauces and the base for posole verde.

In other words, I use everything in my kitchen, I pared down the stuff like the waffle iron years ago. Surplus pots, pans, appliances, and knives went to a coworker whose house burned down.

What I need to pare down are some food stores, dried beans and the like that constitute my emergency food stores and that have come in handy in the past.

 

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)
7. I've got three daughters (youngest almost 17). We keep boxes for "start-up" stuff.
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 04:37 PM
Jan 2012

When they get their first apartments, they'll have a good set of still-functional kitchen stuff.

Response to Denninmi (Original post)

maddezmom

(135,060 posts)
12. My suggestions is to do it stages
Fri Jan 27, 2012, 07:51 PM
Jan 2012

- plan where you want all your items to go by category and allocate the space. I had so much plastic storage I only gave myself one large drawer and the same for kids plastic plates/cups etc.

- as you pull out the items sort them by deciding whether you use them daily, weekly, monthly etc or ever.

- have a box ready for immediate items you know you don't need anymore and one to take straight to the bin....mismatched plastic storage, old wooden spoons, mixing bowls, onesie mugs, onesie glasses, etc.

- get rid of duplicate items unless you know you need them. I have 3 large fry pans with lids. Although I only use them 1 or 2 times a year to make fried chicken. I do use them and would likely repurchase again.

- if you have the storage somewhere else you can take the items that you use infrequently and put them there with a date on it. If you haven't used it in 2 yrs, I'd get rid of it but again if you think it's something you may use sometime...keep it because you don't want to repurchase. That would be Stage 2.

I still in the process of de-cluttering my entire home. Had a bit of help since I needed to divide everything up due to my divorce but I will tell you it feels good to only have what I know I use and what I need in my kitchen. I can find almost everything now and have a place in my laundry where I'm storing stuff I couldn't part with because I might need it someday. But I'm doing it in stages, room by room as not to get overwhelmed. Still haven't tackled the stuff that would go in my dining room buffet as I gave that to my ex but still have the stuff. And I still have a bit of work to do with in my office but since it's also where my pack-rat daughter does her homework not sure I'll ever be done.

Good luck.

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